Carton taping apparatus and method



June 23, 1953 c. w. STECKLING CARTON TAPING APPARATUS AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1949 c. w. STECKLING GARTON 'iAPING APPARATUS AND METHOD June 23, 1953 Filed Nov. 18, 1949 June 23, 1953 c. w. STECKLING CARTON TAFING APPARATUS AND um'non Filed Nov. 18, 1949 '3 *Sheets-Sheet 3 /M A I 7 MAM/2d 4. 71M

JY/Zornry Patented June 23, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'GARTONTAPING APPARATUS AND'IVIETHOD Charles W. Steckling, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application November 18, 1949, Serial Na l- 28,154

(Cl. fi m- 22.)

V 14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for sealing with adhesive 'tape cartons and containers madeof corrugated paper board and the like having longitudinally extending closing flaps which meet across the top of the carton.

A primary object of theinventionis to apply-a strip of adhesive tape to cartons moving in line in uniformly spaced relationship.

Another object of the invention is to cut the tape between cartons and press down the ends as the cartons continuously move forward in such fashion as to maintain the tape under tension until an adhesive bond is established.

Prior .methods of sealing cartons of the type of concern in this case have involved means for stitching'or gluing the meeting flaps to the underlying end flaps. Such procedure not only is more expensive than the method of the present invention but attempts to open cartons thus closed usually have rendered the cartons unfit for reuse.

.After the sealing operation of the present invention, a carton may be easily and quickly opened by a single cut with a-sharp knife along the longitudinal center line of the tape. After removal of contents the undamaged carton may be returned .for further shipping or storage use.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal side elevation of the conveying apparatus and taping mechanism preferably employed in the practice of the invention, I

Figure 2 is a perspective viewof -a carton with the tape in position after cutting and rolling in accordance with this invention,

Figure 3 is a cross sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken along the lines 3--3 there indicated,

Figure 4 is a perspective fragmentary view of the principal features of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 and showing in particular the :knife for cutting the tape and the roller mechanism for pressing down the tape ends on respective ends of a carton, I

Figure .5 is a smaller scale longitudinal side elevation of the same device shown in Fig. 1 showing in addition means for supplying adhesive tape to the cartons and diagrammatically showing means for closing the flaps of cartons before the sealing tape is applied,

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the maximum longitudinal extension of rollers shown .in Fig. 4, and the serrated edged knife for cutting the sealing tape,

Figure 7 is-a detail sideelevation of the rollers at the points of their initial tension maintaining contact with the sealing tape with the knife in cutting position,

Figure 8 is a detail side elevation of the rollers and knife after the tape has been cut and the rollers at the end of their downward movement have pressed the ends of the tape against the sides'of the cartons, and

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the cam and inset track which actuates the forward and rearward motion of the slidably mounted carriage assembly supporting the tape cutting knife and final contact rollers.

Likeparts areLidentiiied'by the same reference numerals throughout the several views.

.In :the apparatus of thepresent invention, referring to Figs.-1.and'5, a chain flight conveyor I is mounted upon sprockets carried in a suitable frame 13 so as to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. The conveyor is provided with evenly spaced cross flights '45 adapted to slide an evenly spaced row of uniform cartons 2 along the support 46 into mechanism 3 which operates to close the carton 'fi'aps. 'The flap closing mechanism 3 is known to the art and forms no part of the present invention and therefore is shown in diagrammatic form only. Referring again to Fig. .5 and also to Fig. '1 as the carton flaps are being closed by mechanism 3, the end of a'tape 4., drawn from a reel 5., supported by frame 6, is passed under roller? and over roller 8 rotatably mounted in moistening fountain box 9. Normally the tape 4 is of paper with glue backing in which case box 9 is supplied with water to moisten the adhesive. Adhesives activated by other solvents or heat may of course be employed. After passing over roller 8 the adhesive side of the tape is started under spring loaded rollers Ill rotatably mounted on bars II which are supported by vertical stands 12 and longitudinal members 13. 'If adhesive activated by a solvent is used the distance between box 9 and the point of contact of roller l0 on carton 2, is made such as toperm'it the adhesive to absorb the solvent.

Chain flight conveyor 1 is arranged to be driven by sprockets l6, affixed to rotate with power input shaft 1.1 which is supplied with power from a source not shown. Also secured to the shaft I! is a sprocket [8 for driving a'chain l 9. Chain I9 moving in counter-clockwise rotation engages and drives a sprocket 20 secured to rotatable shaft 2.! which in turn drives .a pair of heart shapedplate cams 22, one being mounted on each side of the supporting framework of conveyor I.

Mounted to engage the cams 22 to be actuated thereby is a pair of cam follower levers 23 having contacting rollers 24 which cause the levers 23 to oscillate in timed relation to the progress of the conveyor I.

The motion of levers 23 is transmitted to the lower ends of links 25 through connecting pivot pins 28. The upper ends of links 25 are pivotally supported on the ends of a cross bar 21 which is secured to slide blocks 28 siidably guided for vertical movement between vertically disposed end-' stand bars 29. Suspended from bar 21 are vertically disposed plates 30 between which are pivotally mounted soft resilient swinging rollers l of rubber or like material and a rigidly supported serrated knife i4. Co-action of cams 22 with rollers 24 in actuating levers 23 and 25 will raise and lower the assembly carried by the bar 21 in timed relation to the progress of conveyor I. The driving ratio between the cams 22 and the conveyor I is such as to cause one upward and downward reciprocation of the bar 21 for each increment of conveyor movement equal to the spacing between flights 45.

Swinging rollers [5 are carried on swinging bars 33 pivotally mounted on shaft 3! extending between plates 33 and are urged outwardly into contact with adjusting screws 34 by the action of spring 32 which is wound around shaft 3| with its ends hooked around the bars 33.

Also synchronized with the forward movement of conveyor i is the action of a pair of cams 41 (one on each side of the supporting framework of conveyor l) which cause horizontal forward and rearward motion of a slidably mounted carriage assembly which supports the bars 29 and which is made up of end plates 35 borne by slide blocks 33 arranged to slide on brass rails 37 lubricated by cups 38. Cams 4?, as shown in Fig; 1, are secured to rotate with shaft 39 which also bears sprocket positively driven by a chain 41 extending from sprocket 42 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 2 i. As appears from the drawings and in particular Fig. 9-, cams 41 are provided with inset tracks 43 within which followerrollers mounted on downward extensions of plates 35, are received. Rotation of sprocket '49 and shaft 39 to which cams 4? are attached will cause horizontal reciprocation of the carriage assembly which supports the bars 29 in timed relation to progress of conveyor l in such relationship as to provide one reciprocation for each increment of conveyor progress equal to the spacing of flights 45.

The contours of the cams 22 and 4? and the coordination of their movement compelled by the sprockets and chains drivingly joining them with the conveyor 1 are such as to cause the bar 21 and the parts supported thereon to move from a starting point downwardly from and upwardly to a dwelling level of vertical elevation as each flight i5 approaches, while moving horizontally in the same direction with and at the same rate as the conveyor l and then after resuming the dwelling level of the vertical elevation to move horizontally against the movement of conveyor I back to the starting point. This motion is executed once for each passage of a flight 45 and the flights 45 are coordinated with this motion in such manner that a major part of the downward and upward movement of the bar 2'! takes place in positions trailing the flights 45.

With cartons 2 of uniform dimension and with the flights 45 uniformly spaced, predetermined gaps between successive cartons result. The tape 4 fed into contact with the moving stream of cartons thus extends from carton to carton bridging the gaps between the same until a position beneath the rollers l5 and knife I4 is reached as indicated in Fig. 6. The assembly carried by the bar 21 then moves, relative to the gap in question directly downwardly entering the gap as shown in Fig. 7. As the knife 14 initially engages the tape 4, the tape is first downwardly deflected without cutting or at least without complete severance which causes a tension to be built up in the tape 4. This ensures a tight and neat closure of the ends of the flaps of the adjacent cartons. Rollers l5 are adjusted in advance by screws 34 to have a spread slightly greater than the gap between cartons and are disposed above the knife l4 a predetermined amount suiiicient to bring the rollers 15 into contact with the tape 4 at the moment just preceding final severance of the tape 4. By so relating the parts the tension in tape 4 set up by the action of knife I4 is preserved by the contact between rollers l5 engaging the tape 4 at the corners of the adjacent cartons 2 as illustrated in Fig. '7. Thereafter the rollers I5 are carried downwardly as shown in Fig. 3 to roll out the cut ends of the tape 4 and to press the same against the ends of the cartons 2 to set up a sufficient cemented area to preserve the tension referred to.

By reason of the action described a neatly closed finished sealed carton as shown in Fig. 2 is delivered from the left hand end of the conveyor I. It will be apparent that apparatus for the closure of uniform cartons of a size other than that illustrated in the drawings may be constructed in accordance with the present invention without departure from the principles herein disclosed by appropriately relating the spacing of the flights 45 and the travel and dimensions of the rollers l5 and knife [4 to the dimensions of the cartons to be closed.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for applying sealing tape for closure of a series of uniform cartons each having a pair of closing flaps meeting along a longitudinally extending meeting line, means for maintaining said series of cartons in uniformly spaced relation with the meeting line of the flaps thereof in longitudinal alignment; means for adhesively applying a closing tape extending from carton to carton to the adjacent margins of the pairs of meeting flaps and spanning the uniform spaces between the cartons; a movable cutting head including a severing and tensioning knife; actuating means for said head including means operative to cause said knife to move toward said tape to engage, tension, and cut, the same while successively entering the spaces between successive cartons, and pair of outwardly spring urged inwardly swingable pressure rollers mounted on said head flanking said knife in trailing relation thereto p0- sitioned to contact said tape and press the same against the ends of said cartons after said tape has been tensioned by said knife and prior to the severance of the same thereby and to defleet and press the cut ends of said tape against the ends of adjacent cartons after severance.

2. In an apparatus for cutting between cartons a strip of adhesive bearing tape adhering to and extending longitudinally across aligned faces of an evenly spaced row of cartons in margin joining relation to the flaps thereof and for turning and pressing the out ends of the tape against adjacent end faces of said cartons while race-again under tension, the combination comprising an oscillatable cuttingihead including aknife having :a :leading cutting edge transversely disposed with respect to and extending :across the run 'of said tape, ;a pair of transverse inwardly deflectable pressing members having "divergent enga ing :faces flanking said knife in position trailing the cutting edge thereof, resilient :means ce-D- eratively engaging said gpressing members pur ing the same away from said :knife, and stop means for :said pressing members limiting 'outward movement thereof to 'a spacing exceeding the uniform space between said cartons by an amount less than the span of said divergent-engaging faces and a carriageyfor said oscillatable cutting head including :means :mounting said head ;for movement transversely "of the run of said tape from a position outside the intercarton space :in said row of cartons to a tape cutting position inside the intercarton space with said pressing members in pressing contact with the cut ends of said tape and :for return movement to a position outside of the intercarton space, and driving means engaging said oscillatahle head corelated with said row of cartons to cause said oscillatable head to successively enter and leave the inter-carton spaces in said row of cartons.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including conveying means supporting said row of cartons adapted to'advance said row of cartons in the direction of the run of said tape.

In an apparatus for applying adhesive coated sealing tape to a series of cartons ranged in a uniformly spaced "row to close the top flaps of the same, the combination comprising a tape supply support disposed above said carton row adapted to support a supply of adhesive coated tape in position to be fed into contact with the meeting margins of the top flaps of said-cartons;

conveying means positioned to engage and support said series of cartons and to convey the same along a fixed path in the direction of the row in which the same are ranged while preserving the spacing' thereof and to draw tape in adhesive contact with the top flaps thereof from said tape supply to form a run of tape extending from carton to cartonsacross the uniform spaces therebetween; downwardly acting pressure applying means disposed above said conveying means positioned to engage the back of said tape and press the same into contact with the tops of said cartons to .ensure adhesion of said tape thereto; a movable tape cutting head comprising a knife transversely disposed with respect to the run of said tape and .a pair of inwardly defiectable resiliently expandable endwise pressing members flanking said knife in trailing relation thereto spaced from one another a distance greater than the spacing 'between cartons, a carriage for said head comprising vertical guiding means engaging said head to guide the same in vertical oscillating movement 'to and from .a raised position above said run of tape and a "lowered position below said run of tape, longitudinal guiding means "engaging said carriage to guide the same in a forward and return longitudinal horizontal oscillating movement coincident with the direction and rate of travel of said conveyed row of cartons in its forward movement and opposite to the direction of travel of said cartons in its return movement; driving means for said conveying means; vertical motion driving means for said cutting head; :a horizontal "motion driving 8 means for said carriage; and transmission means positively inter-connecting said conveyor and head, and carriage driving means operative to compel said head to enter 'andsleave successive inter-carton spaces zinrsaid row of cartons while the'latter is being conveyed.

5. An apparatus .in accordance *with claim 4 wherein said conveying means-comprises an elongated slideway:forsupporting said row of cartons in sliding longitudinal motion, a pair of conveying chains extending lengthwise of and-supported for longitudinal motion in unison along the'miargins of said slidewaypand a'series of evenly spaced 'iiight bars secured to said chains and :extending transversely across said slideways above said slideways.

6. apparatus .in accordance with "claim 4 in which the vertical motion driving means for'said head comprises a vertical motion cam, vertical motion transmission means connecting said vertical-motion cam in positivedr'iven relation to said driving means for said conveying means a follower engaging said vertical motioncam, and linkage "joining said follower to said cutting head, said vertical motion cam having a reciprocating contour and an upper position dwell contour and said transmission having a driving ratio such that said head is caused to execute a cycle conisting of a complete downward and upward movement with a dwell in raised position'before repeating during the interval of advancementby said conveying means of a single carton.

'7. An apparatus in accordance with claiml in which the vertical motiondriving means for said head comprises a vertical motion "cam, vertical motion transmission means "connecting said vertical motion cam in positive driven relation to said driving means for said conveying means, a follower "engaging said vertical motion cam, "and linkage joining said follower to said cutting head, said vertical motioncam having a reciprocating contour and an upper position dwell contour and said transmission havinga driving ratio such that said head is caused to execute a cycle consisting of a complete downward and upward movement with a dwell in raised position before repeating during the interval of advancementby said conveying means of a single carton; and in which the horizontal :motion driving means. for :saiclcarriage comprises a horizontal motion cam, horizontal motion transmission means connecting said horizontal motion cam in positive driven relationship tossaid driving means for said conveying means, a horizontal motion follower engaging said horizontal motion cam operatively connected to said carriage, said horizontal motion cam having a coincident motion contour and a :return motion contour and said horizontal motion transmission means having a driving ratio and timed relation to said conveying means such that said carriage is caused to execute a complete reciprocation horizontally with a forward motion in coincidence with the rate and direction of advance of said conveying means during vertical reciprocation of said head and with a .return motion oposite to the direction of advance of said-conveying means during the raised position dwell .of said head.

8. In a taping machine havinga conveyor for moving spaced, alined cartons longitudinally through said machine and having means for applying tape to the tops of said cartons as said cartons are moved through said machine; a carrier longitudinally reciprocatably mounted on said machine. spaced pressure membersmounted onl-said-carrier in-positions to vbezengageable simultaneously with tape applied to the top of the rear end portion of one carton on said conveyor and with tape applied to the top of the forward end portion of the rearwardly adjacent carton on said conveyor when said carrier is in a predetermined position relative to said conveyor; and cam controlled carrier actuating mechanism connected to said conveyor in timed relationship in a manner to move said carrier in one direction to said predetermined position and to move said carrier from said predetermined position in the opposite direction with and at the same speed as said conveyor for a predetermined distance.

9. In an apparatus for applying sealing tape for closure of a series of uniform cartons each having a pair of closing flaps meeting along a longitudinally extending meeting line, means for maintaining said series of cartons in spaced aligned relation, means for adhesively applying a closing tape extending from carton to carton to the adjacent margins of the pairs of meeting flaps and spanning the spaces between the cartons, a movable cutting head including a tape severing knife, actuating means for said head including means operative to caus said knife to move toward said tape to engage and sever the same while successively entering the spaces between successive cartons, and spaced pressure members flanking said knife in positions to contact said tape at the rear end portion of one carton and the forward end portion of the rearwardly adjacent carton and movable with said knife when said knife is entered within the space between the adjacent cartons so as to simultaneously enter the space between the cartons to press said tape against the ends of the adjacent cartons after severance by said knife.

10. In an apparatus for applying sealing tape closure of a series of uniform cartons each having a pair of closing flaps meeting along a longitudinally extending meeting line, means for maintaining said series of cartons in spaced aligned relation, means for adhesively applying a closing tape extending from carton to carton to the adjacent margins of the pairs of meeting flaps and spanning the spaces between the cartons, a movable cutting head including a tape severing knife, actuating means for said head including means operative to cause said knife to move toward said tape to engage and sever the same while successively entering the spaces between successive cartons, a pair of end sealing pressure members mounted on said head flanking said knife positioned to contact said tape between adjacent cartons upon said knife entering the space between the cartons and to simultaneously enter the space between the adjacent cartons to press said tape against the ends of said cartons after said tape has been severed by said knife, and a pair of spaced downwardly acting closing flap hold down members in addition to said end sealing pressure members disposed one on each side of said head and positioned to successively apply downward holding pressure to the tops of the closing flaps of that pair of cartons adjacent said head when said knife is between the same.

11. In a taping machine having a conveyor for moving spaced, aligned cartons longitudinally through said machine and having means for applying tape to the tops of said cartons as said cartons are moved through said machine; a carrier longitudinally reciprocably mounted on said machine, spaced pressure members mounted on said carrier in positions to be engageable simultaneously with tape applied to the top of the rear end portion of one carton on said conveyor and with tape applied to the top of the forward end portion of the rearwardly adjacent carton on said conveyor when said carrier is in a predetermined position relative to said conveyor, and carrier actuating mechanism connected to said conveyor in timed relationship in a manner to move said carrier in one direction to said predetermined position and to move said carrier from said predetermined position in the opposite direction with and at the same speed as said conveyor for a predetermined distance.

12. In an apparatus for applying sealing tape for closure of a series of cartons each having a. pair of closing flaps meeting along a longitudinally extending meeting line, means for maintaining said series of cartons in spaced aligned relation, means for adhesively applying closing tape extending from carton to carton to the adjacent margins of the pairs of meeting flaps and spanning the spaces between the cartons, a movable cutting head including a tape severing member, actuating means for said head including means operative to cause said severing member to move toward said tape to engage and sever the same while successively entering the spaces between successive cartons, and spaced pressure members movable with and flanking said severing member disposed on opposite sides thereof in positions to simultaneously enter the space between the cartons to press the severed ends of said tape against the ends of the adjacent cartons upon severance of said tape.

13. In an apparatus for applying sealing tape for closure of a series of cartons each having a pair of closing flaps meeting along a longitudinally extending meeting line, means for maintaining said series of cartons in spaced aligned relation, means for adhesively applying closing tape extending from carton to carton to the adjacent margins of the pairs of meeting flaps and spanning the spaces between the cartons, a movable cutting head including a tape severing member, actuating means for said head including means operative to cause said severing member to move toward said tape to engage and sever the same while successively entering the spaces between successive cartons, and spaced pressure members movable with and flanking said severing member in positions to simultaneously enter the space between the cartons to press the severed ends of said tape against the ends of the adjacent cartons upon severance of said tape, and a pair of spaced closing flap holding members in addition to said pressure members including supporting means therefor disposed on opposite sides of said head in alignment with said cartons and positioned to successively apply holding pressure to retain the closing flaps of the pair of cartons adjacent said head when said severing member is between the same in closed position.

14. In a taping machine having a conveyor for moving spaced aligned cartons with closing flaps longitudinally through said machine and having means for applying tape to the flaps of said cartons as said cartons are moved through said machine, a carrier longitudinally reciprocatably mounted on said machine, a movable cutting head mounted on said carrier, actuating means for said head operative to cause said head to move toward said tape and sever the tape between adjacent cartons, spaced pressure members mounted on said carrier in positions to be engageable with tape applied to the top of the rear end portion of one carton on said conveyor References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Numb-er Name Date Kucklinsky Sept. 1, 1936 Stagmeier Sept. 1, 1936 Dyment July 20, 1937 Grupe Dec. 14, 1948 

